Page 36 of Perfect Date
“Let me give you my number,” he says as I move back toward him.
He’s standing now and his presence seems to take up all the space in the room.
He takes my phone from my hand, uses my face to unlock it, smiling at himself, then programs his number into my phone.
“Alright, so you have my number should you need it, but let’s plan on Friday night. I know that’s your typical date night,” he says with a wink.
“Very funny.”
“I thought so. Anyway, meet me at Club Rebel, seven o’clock. Sound good?” I hesitate. “I know I’ll see you there, Charlie and I look forward to it. Now, how about you walk me up to the front and I’ll pay that new patient fee since I took up your valuable patient time. Sound good?”
“Yeah, but you really don’t want a cleaning? Once you use the new patient special, you can’t do it again.”
“It’s cool. I’ll come back when I’m actually due for a cleaning.”
All I can do is nod. I radio to the front to let them know I’ll be walking up with Justin to check out and immediately questions fill my headset. The dentist questions about not being called for an exam, Tracie inquires why he’s leaving early, the back office asks about his incomplete chart.
My mind is spinning way too much for me to be able to answer anyone. When we reach the front I recite my standard speech, informing Tracie that my patient is ready to check out and then telling Justin that she’ll take care of him.
“Thanks for your time today, Charlie,” Justin says with a wide smile. Damn, that really is one killer smile and the sight makes that flutter happen deep in my belly again.
“You’re welcome,” I manage to reply.
“I look forward to seeing you Friday night,” he says with another wink.
Behind him, Tracie’s eyes widen and I almost groan out loud. So much for keeping the gossip at bay. He just happily gave them fuel for weeks. Tracie is likely on cloud nine and already thinking about everyone she’s going to tell.
Damn him.
And his stupid smile.
9
“Why am I so nervous? I feel like I’m going to throw up. I didn’t feel this nervous when I went on my other dates,” I tell Kimberly as she stands behind me pinning back sections of my hair while I stand before her wearing my soft gray robe.
My makeup is already done, she had me sit before her while she applied it with a careful hand. She insisted on coming over to help me get ready since I’m going clubbing - she said she wanted to help give me the perfect look.
“You didn’t?” She asks taking another piece of hair and wrapping it around my curling wand.
“No, the most emotion I felt was when they went badly. I was annoyed, angry, embarrassed. A little nervous, I guess, but not like this.”
She smirks at me in the mirror, “I know why and you do too.”
“Oh, well please enlighten me,” I tell her narrowing my eyes at her know-it-all tone of voice.
“Happily. It’s because you actually like Justin, that’s why. You didn’t know the other guys before you went out with them so you didn’t really care how the date went. You care, and care a lot, about this one.”
“What? I cared about how the dates went!”
“Yeah, perhaps a bit, but not really and certainly not like you do with this one.”
“I already established that.”
“It’s because you like him!”
She pauses and looks at me. When I don’t deny it, she smiles.
“Therefore, you’re nervous,” she finishes.
